Books Blog : movie, humorhttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/tags/movie/humor/default.aspxTags: movie, humorenCommunityServer 2008 SP1 (Build: 30619.63)Elizabeth II, in Film and Fictionhttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2013/01/14/elizabeth-ii-in-film-and-fiction.aspxMon, 14 Jan 2013 19:45:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:2434myzticrhythmz@evpl0http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=2434http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2013/01/14/elizabeth-ii-in-film-and-fiction.aspx#comments<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;"><img height="296" width="200" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=9780062208286" alt="Mrs. Queen Takes the Train" style="float:left;" /></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;">Britain&rsquo;s Royal Family is always a source of curiosity, and their Monarch is no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp; </span>Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, has been featured in a number of films, documentaries, and books over the past several years. Here are a few to enjoy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;"><strong><em><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search~S0?/tqueen+vid/tqueen+vid/1%2C3%2C4%2CB/frameset&amp;FF=tqueen+videorecording&amp;1%2C%2C2">The Queen</a></em></strong>, a 2006 feature film starring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren, portrays the turmoil in the Royal Family in the days following Diana, Princess of Wales&rsquo; death. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp;</span>This film portrays the public&rsquo;s strong sentiment in favor of the Princess, as the Queen struggles with a proper response to her former daughter-in-law&rsquo;s death. Mirren&rsquo;s portrayal is sensitive, with a bit of humor thrown in, and well worth the viewing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;">As Queen, Elizabeth has sometimes seemed detached from her subjects, and fiction authors have responded by imagining her in creative ways. Alan Bennett&rsquo;s <strong><em><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/?searchtype=t&amp;SORT=D&amp;searcharg=uncommon+reader">The Uncommon Reader</a></em></strong> poses a unique notion: What if Queen Elizabeth became such an avid reader that she loses interest in her &ldquo;duty,&rdquo; and becomes more introspective and sympathetic to others? This novella is a quick, pithy read, and sure to bring a smile.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size:small;">Author William Kuhn creates a different scenario for the Queen. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp;</span>In <strong><em><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/?searchtype=t&amp;SORT=D&amp;searcharg=mrs+queen+takes+the+train">Mrs. Queen Takes the Train</a></em></strong>, the longtime&nbsp;Sovereign of the United Kingdom <span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp;</span>ponders what she might be find missing in her life. The answer, strangely enough, is <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;">Her Majesty&#39;s Yacht <i>Britannia</i></span>, the former </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_yacht" title="Royal yacht"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none;"><span style="font-size:small;">Royal Yacht</span></span></a><span style="font-size:small;"> of the British monarch. Alone on an inclement winter&rsquo;s day, Elizabeth grows restless. First, she decides to visit one of her horses, also named Elizabeth. Then she&rsquo;s off to the cheese store to buy Elizabeth (the horse) some of her favorite cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp; </span>And finally, Elizabeth boards a public train bound for Scotland to visit her beloved yacht. The chaos that ensues among the Queen&rsquo;s staff and acquaintances by her unexpected journey helps cement relationships, and demonstrates loyalty beyond &ldquo;duty&rdquo; to their Sovereign. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp;</span>This book, like <strong><em>The Queen</em></strong> and <strong><em>The Uncommon Reader</em></strong>, adds a bit of warmth and compassion to a celebrated historical figure. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;">For more in the Library&rsquo;s catalog about Queen Elizabeth, click <a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search~S0/?searchtype=d&amp;searcharg=Elizabeth+II%2C+Queen+of+Great+Britain&amp;SORT=D&amp;extended=0&amp;searchlimits=&amp;searchorigarg=dElizabeth+II%2C+Queen+of+Great+Britain%2C+1926-+--+Ju">here</a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:small;">Grab a warm cup of tea and your favorite QEII tale, and enjoy!</span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2434" width="1" height="1">humorfictionLondonbiographical fictionmovieEnglandbook reviewRoyal FamilyQueenElizabeth IIThurber Prize for American Humorhttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2008/10/07/thurber-prize-for-american-humor.aspxTue, 07 Oct 2008 13:43:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:695Meditatinglibrarian@evpl1http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=695http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2008/10/07/thurber-prize-for-american-humor.aspx#comments<p>The 2008 Thurber Prize for American humor has been awarded to Larry Doyle for his first novel, <b><i><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/t?SEARCH=i%20love%20you%20beth%20cooper">I Love You, Beth Cooper. </a></i></b>&nbsp;Runners up for the prize were Patricia Marx for <b><i><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/t?SEARCH=him%20her%20him%20again">Him, Her, Him Again, the End of Him</a></i></b> and Simon Rich for <b><i><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/t?SEARCH=ant%20farm%20and%20other">Ant Farm: and other desperate situations.</a></i></b></p>
<p>So if you are in the mood for some well-written, humorous fiction, these would be some good titles to try. </p>
<p><b><i>I Love You, Beth Cooper</i></b> will soon be a movie directed by Chris Columbus (currently planned for March 2009 release).&nbsp; The story is about a nerdy high school senior who proclaims his love for the most beautiful, popular girl in school in his valedictorian speech.&nbsp; Then she shows up at his door wanting to show him the best night of his life.&nbsp; Doyle has written for <i>Beavis and Butt-Head</i> and <i>The Simpsons</i>, and his first novel &quot;both celebrates and mercilessly satirizes all things teen with razor-sharp humor&quot; according to <i>Publishers Weekly (PW)</i> in their review of his book.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Simon Rich, author of <b><i>Ant Farm</i></b>, is a contributor to <em>Mad</em> magazine and former president of the <i>Harvard Lampoon</i>.&nbsp; <b><i>Ant Farm</i></b> is a collection of short, humorous pieces, half of which formerly appeared in the <i>Harvard Lampoon</i>.&nbsp; Most of the 57 pieces are only two pages long, and each with a different topic.&nbsp; The <i>PW</i> review says, &quot;The tone remains constant throughout, but the topic changes every page with the abruptness of an iPod shuffle.&quot; True, these fragments are fun, and some are so abrupt they could have been iPhoned in.&quot;&nbsp;</p>
<p>I enjoyed the start of Claudia Deane&#39;s review of <b><i>Him, Her, Him Again, the End of Him</i></b> in The Washington Post: &quot;<i>There are college boyfriends. There are caddishly bad college boyfriends. And there are caddishly bad college boyfriends you somehow can&#39;t quit. And now, thanks to Patricia Marx&#39;s <b>Him Her Him Again the End of Him</b>, there&#39;s Eugene.</i></p>
<p><i>Encountered while her 21-year-old narrator is studying abroad at Cambridge University, Eugene is a budding philosopher, fresh out of Princeton and AmeriCorps with a copy of the Magna Carta in his pocket</i>.&quot;</p>
<p>Author&nbsp;Patricia Marx is a former <i>Saturday Night Live</i> writer and a <i>New Yorker</i> contributor.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=695" width="1" height="1">humorreviewsdebut novelbook prizesmovie